An original Days of our Lives cast member, John Clarke was born in South Bend, Indiana. As the son of a career U.S. Army officer, Clarke has lived in 20 states, and he graduated from high school while in Tokyo. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master degree in television arts from UCLA. After leaving the university, he served as a sergeant in the United States Arm and fought in the Korean War.

Clarke has been married to his wife Patricia, a ballet dancer, for over 30 years. The couple had three children together: Joshua, Melinda (Mindy), and Heidi. Tragedy struck when Heidi died from a rare heart tumor in 1994. The Clarkes established a scholarship fund in her memory at the California Institute of the Arts.

In his spare time, John enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. His birthday is April 14, 1932.

John Clarke shocked all the fans when he announced in early 2004 that he was retiring from the role of Mickey Horton to stay home and spend more time with his family.